“Sydenham Panther” strikes again

Dog walker Sara Hill, 32, discovered the mauled remains of a domestic cat as she pushed her 8-month-old son through the park. The unfortunate feline had every morsel licked from its bones, save the head.

Displaying an intimate knowledge of cryptozoology hitherto unrecognised in the residents of SE26, Ms Hill stated: “It could only have been a big cat. No other animal would do that kind of damage. A dog would have torn it limb from limb and a fox would have finished it off.”

The attack reawakens painful memories for the good burghers of Sydenham, who were traumatised by a “big cat” attack four years ago.

Holder was attempting to recall “KitKat” when he spotted “a 5ft-long animal” chowing down on his beloved tabby. Immediately responding to the intervention, the “black, panther-like creature” relinquished his meal and leapt at Holder.

“I could see these huge teeth and the whites of its eyes just inches from my face. It was snarling and growling and I really believed it was trying to do some serious damage.”

Warming to his theme, Holder continued: “I really thought my life was in danger,” before noticing scowls from his wife.

“… but all I was worried about was my family.”

In response to the 2005 attack, gleeful Plod armed themselves with Tasers and tranqilizer darts, nosing around warrantless in the gardens of the innocent before eventually calling it a night.

Following this year’s attack, Big Cats In Britain rent-a-quote Mark Fraser proclaimed: “This could be the work of a big cat but we need more evidence.”